Hydrangea plant named ‘LEEP1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hydrangea paniculata  cultivar named ‘LEEP1’ is disclosed, characterized by a large inflorescence and upright growth habit. Plants tolerate heat well and are easy to propagate. Branches are exceptionally strong, reducing lodging over. The new variety is a  Hydrangea , normally produced as an ornamental plant for containers or gardens.

Latin name of the genus and species: Hydrangea paniculata.

Variety denomination: ‘LEEP1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Hydrangea cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor in Independence, La. The objective of thebreeding program was to produce new Hydrangea paniculata varieties forlandscape use. The open pollination resulting in this new variety wasmade during 2007.

Seed was bulk collected from a variety of unpatented Hydrangeapaniculata plants which had been open pollinated. The exact seed parentis unidentified. The pollen parent is unknown, as it was an openpollination breeding program. The new variety was identified as apotentially interesting selection in August of 2008, at a nursery inIndependence, La.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘LEEP1’ by softwood cuttingswas first performed during the May of 2009, at commercial nursery inIndependence, La. Subsequent propagation has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘LEEP1’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘LEEP1’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘LEEP1’ as a new and distinct Hydrangeacultivar:

-   -   1. Large inflorescence.    -   2. Thick branches, forming a sturdy, less floppy plant.    -   3. Upright growth habit.    -   4. Heat tolerance.    -   5. Easy to propagate.

PARENT VARIETY COMPARISON

The inventor cannot accurately identify seed and pollen parents.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LEEP1’ are similar to plants of Hydrangeapaniculata ‘Phantom’, unpatented in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘LEEP1’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has thicker branches.    -   2. The new variety is smaller, reaching a height and width of        approximately 5 to 6 feet, ‘Phantom’ reaches a mature height and        width of approximately 6 to 10 feet.    -   3. Plants of the new variety are moderately dense, plants of        ‘Phantom’ are loose and open.

‘LEEP1’ can be compared to the patented commercial variety Hydrangea‘Limelight’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,874. These varieties are similar inmost horticultural characteristics; however ‘LEEP1’ differs in thefollowing:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety are shorter, achieving a height of        approximately 5 to 6 feet at maturity, compared to 6 to 8 feet        at maturity of this comparator.    -   2. The new variety has thicker branches.    -   3. The new variety has sepals colored near Green-White 157D,        flushed yellow-green 149D, the comparator has sepals colored        near 145B and 145C.    -   4. Branches of the new variety are stiffer and less prone to        lodging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical flowering plant of ‘LEEP1’ grown outdoors in Loxley, Ala. Theplant is approximately 2 year old, The photograph was taken usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible byconventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The 1996Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘LEEP1’ plants outdoors, in Loxley, Ala. USA.The growing temperature ranged from approximately 18° C. to 27° C.daytime and 5° to 10° C. at night. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plant types. Measurements were takenduring August of 2016.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea paniculata ‘LEEP1’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: Approximately 18 days at approximately 27°    C.-   Time to produce a rooted young plants: Approximately 60 days at    approximately 27° C.-   Root description: Thick and fine, freely root branching and dense,    fibrous. Color is white and brown, not accurately measured with an    R.H.S. chart.-   Propagation method: Softwood cuttings.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 2 years.-   Pot size: 2 gallon.-   Growth habit: Flowering perennial shrub, upright and round.-   Overall plant shape: V-shaped.-   Height: 37 cm.-   Plant spread: 41 cm.-   Growth rate: Good.-   Plant vigor: Good.-   Branching characteristics: Opposite, basal branches, some pinching    required.-   Length of lateral branches: Average 25 cm.-   Number of lateral branches: 4 main branches, each with 3 to 5    lateral branches, after pinching.-   Diameter of lateral branches: 6 to 9 mm.-   Lateral branch shape and appearance: Round.-   Lateral branch strength: Moderate.-   Internode length: Average range 1.8 to 3.2 cm.-   Branch color: Immature: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C. Mature: Near RHS    Yellow-Green N144D, densely covered in Greyed-Orange 174A.-   Branch angle: 0 to 15°.-   Branch texture: Immature branches short hirsute. Mature branches    very slightly scaly.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Average length.—8 to 10 cm.        -   Average width.—4.0 to 5.0 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Sharply serrate.        -   Texture and appearance of top surface.—Short hirsute, matte.        -   Texture and appearance of bottom surface.—Matte, mainly            glabrous. Few hirsute hairs on veins.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 143A. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C. Mature            foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage            under side: Near RHS Green 138A.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 145A. Venation color under side: Near            Yellow-Green 145B.-   Petiole:    -   -   Average length.—2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—4 mm.        -   Color.—Upper side: Near RHS Yellow-green 145B. Under side:            Near RHA Yellow-green 145B.        -   Texture upper side.—Glossy, glabrous.        -   Texture under side.—Glossy, glabrous.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period:    -   -   Natural season.—Early Summer until Fall.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Arrangement.—Terminal corymb.        -   Commercial type.—Mophead.        -   Panicle height.—10-15 cm.        -   Panicle diameter.—9-15 cm.        -   Panicle shape.—Moderately tight, globular, slightly            elongated sphere.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Fertile flowers: not            observed to date. Sterile Flowers, 150 to 300 approximate            average.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Fragrance.—Very faintly scented.-   Sterile flower:    -   -   Bud shape.—Obovate.        -   Bud length.—4.0 mm.        -   Bud diameter.—2.0 mm.        -   Bud color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 149D.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright and outward.        -   Flower shape.—Cruciform.        -   Flower diameter.—Average range 17 to 22 mm.        -   Flower depth.—8 mm.        -   Aspect.—Facing upright and outward. Self-cleaning.-   Sterile flower sepals:    -   -   Petal arrangement.—Cruciform.        -   Petal number.—4.        -   Length of petal.—Approximately 8 to 12 mm.        -   Width of petal.—Approximately 9 to 11 mm.        -   Angel of attachment/aspect.—Petals angled upward            approximately 15° from point of attachment. Petals slightly            upwardly cupped.        -   Apex.—Rounded or retuse.        -   Shape of petal.—Ovate.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Petal base.—Obtuse.        -   Petal texture.—Smooth, upper and under sides.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near RHS Yellow-Green            149D. Upper surface at maturity: Near RHS Green-White 157D,            lightly flushed Yellow-Green 149D. Under surface at first            opening: Near RHS Yellow-Green 149D. Under surface at            maturity: Near RHS Green-White 157D, lightly flushed            Yellow-Green 149D. Color when fading: Upper and lower            surfaces: Near RHS White 155A.-   Sterile flower petal: Highly reduced structure.    -   -   Arrangement.—Whorl.        -   Number.—4.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Tip.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—1 mm.        -   Width.—1 mm.        -   Texture, upper.—Smooth.        -   Texture, lower.—Smooth.        -   Color.—All surfaces at first opening: Near RHS Yellow-Green            149D. All surfaces at maturity: Near RHS Yellow-Green 149D.            All surfaces fading to: Near RHS White 155A.-   Sterile flower pedicel:    -   -   Length.—15 mm.        -   Diameter.—1 mm.        -   Angle.—Upright and outward.        -   Strength.—Flexible, not prone to breakage.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 149D.-   Fertile flower: Not observed to date.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Sterile flower: All reproductive parts reduced to less than 1 mm or    not present.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Cold tolerance: USDA Zones 3 through 8.-   Fruit/seed production: Seed production not observed to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangeapaniculata plant named ‘LEEP1’ as herein illustrated and described.